Swan Lake

Paul took these pictures Wednesday morning.

Chicken Up Date

group shot



A fluffy red frizzle



The turken even snuck in for some bread, his neck and crop are bare of feathers. Weird.


After a month without our food scraps, the chickens went crazy when they saw the golf card turn in the driveway. Very funny, even the "new" chickens that didn't come before came running. Do chickens talk to each other??? The frizzle bantam chickens got their feathers back and are beautiful. Paul counted 50 chickens, and maybe there were still some in the pasture.

Tiny Little Fish Hooks

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On part of the San Juan River, where it is catch and release, the first 4 miles from the dam, you have to use hooks without barbs. They also have to be very tiny, size 22 or 24, sometimes even a size 30. These fish are so smart, they see and recognize the larger hooks.

Back to Some Degree of Normal

We are back home and glad of it. It was a pretty hot trip, lovin' the fall in Michigan. I have my new computer up and running, the phone working as of Monday, and a camera almost ready to go.

Paul had a lot of yard clean up to do. I am working on the new bedroom. Found a pretty blue fuzzy blanket at TJ Maxx, and a mirror. Found a nice cream fuzzy blanket in South Bend. That will go in the motor home. Sean did a great job on our bedroom. It looks so much larger, the ends of the room are a cool blue, the sides, east and west, are a taupe. Will try a picture to add to this.

Paul just finished up the paper work for Progressive. Or the first round of paper work. I am still working on laundry. Will be putting stuff away for a few more days. Still, sleeping great in my own bed.
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My Hero

Oh the fun and games of breaking in a new computer. Oh Ryan, I need your help. This curser jumps around like a frog. And it isn't spelled right either. I can't get on face book because my location has changed and I have trouble logging in because of new passwords. This morning I had to take a test, it shows me pictures of friends and I have to identify them. Totally random pics of strangers, next time I tried it I identified two, then my computer restarted itself. ??? Then I tried it again and did ok until it gave me a pic of a large rock. Then it said there weren't anymore tests ??? how strange.

So anyway, Paul is my hero. First he saved me from the bear/burgler, then he cleaned up Julie's family room after I barfed all over it on Wed night. Then the ultimate sacrifice, he offered to stop at Cracker Barrel for lunch in Columbia, Missouri, so I could have comfort food. Which in this case is a hot roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes. It was just what I needed. The traffic was terrible and the lot was hard to find and enter. Total annoyance and cuss words. At least we got right in and served right away. Instead of being trapped in the gift shop for 20 minutes and forced to look at kitschy items.

Oh no, feeling barffy again.

Paul Saved My From the Bear

We worried about bears when we went to bed Sunday night. Paul sat in the drivers seat and watched the neighbors sneak around with flashlights, trying to spot the bear. Monday, at 4:30 am Paul woke up because the rig was shaking, thought I was up, nope, right in bed beside him. And when the rig swayed again, he was mad and thought that bear was shaking it. He jumped up and saw a big black figure in the front of the rig, he yelled in his meanest teacher voice, "get out of here, you f*****!" Then he saw it was a guy, about 6 ft tall, dressed all in black, who left in a big hurry. No doubt because Colorado has a "make my day" law and most everyone has a gun.

Soon after that we noticed that my phone, camera and computer were gone. The El Paso sheriff got there in a hurry, he was nearby, tracking the bear's trail of overturned garbage cans. He was very nice and mentioned that the make my day law also worked in motor homes.

Shirley and Emery live in a very nice neighborhood, mostly retired military. Even the police officer was surprised that there was a break in there. There are draws and ravines here and there, and the mule deer and bears make good use of them. I don't understand the attitude about bears. I certainly wouldn't be running about the neighborhood armed with a flashlight looking for them. Bears are dangerous in Michigan.

So Paul spent some time on the phone with the insurance company. He and Emery walked around a bit and found the tool that was used to break in the door. Now our lock doesn't work real well. The moron also took our remotes, TV and radio, the motor home ignition and door keys, and who knows what else is missing. Working on the list. electronics cords and stuff too.

Still had a great day with Shirley and Emery, visited the Air Force Academy, Fort Carson, Manitou Springs and other places.

And we saw the beer prints in the back yard. He was a big sucker!

Colorado Springs with Shirley and Emery

This is taken from Paul's bedside window at Glenwood Springs.



The Rockies are turning beautiful colors, this is the Aspen in Vale



Look closely, this is a pic of mule deer in Shirley and Emery's neighborhood, 1 mile from downtown Colorado Springs. There is also a neighborhood black bear, about 6 feet, 10 inches tall. He has been eating the apples off trees in the neighborhood. I hope he is afraid of motor homes and we are sleeping right here!


The artist who made the Wind Farm was a friend of Emery's. The sculptures are beautiful, it was almost dark so not such a good pic.

It was a job for Paul to drive the motor home across I 70 today. Lots more traffic that anticipated. Found Shirley and Emery's house without getting lost. Having more fun, this is a beautiful city. Took a ride past the Biltmore. Very elegant

Rafting Trip Was Exciting and I have no pictures

Saturday we took the white water raft trip from our RV Park, Rock Gardens. Nice photos on this page http://www.rockgardens.com/rafting.html . They take a lot of pics of each trip and the CD is only $50. Which is a lot of money to see yourself like a drowned rat with a baseball cap under your helmet.

There was about 6 miles of rapids and 10 easy miles on the trip. We did the rapids section twice because we weren't quite wet enough the first time. This section of the Colorado River is just east of Glenwood Springs. I 70 has a nice run of parks along side of it and a biking and walking trail. Very wonderful. It was hot and sunny so getting wet was a bonus.

We had a great guide, and an unusual load of boat people. There were three young men from India, one was too skinny to row, the other two were lazy and had no idea how to row at all. They work for Comcast in Denver. So if you call Comcast for technical help and can't understand the nerd, now you know why. There was also another couple around our age, who had been on many rafting trips all over the world. And two young and strong women. They saved us. Although Paul is sure that our guide could have gotten us down the river without us rowing.

We were going too fast to be scared, it was really fun. Oh, I just found pics online from this section of river so you get the idea. Same area, different raft company. Will post if I get permission.

More Colorado Pics

Home sweet home

Our view


The river looks a little fast this morning.

A beautiful day for traveling.



This hearty flower grows out of any crack in the rocks. It reminds me of German statice, a flower used in dried flower arrangements.


Paul, of course.

A quick stop along side the Colorado River, HWY 128, a most beautiful road. We got on at Moab and took it up to US 70. a massive rock wall on one side, the river on the other. Magnificent, we like it better than the Grand Canyon.

So glad our phones work here, and my internet! I have catching up to do. Have to update my foodie section. I thought Tex Mex food was hot! Ha, it has nothing on New Mexico hot. This is the season for green chilies and freezing and canning them was a hot topic of conversation. J and Buddy are great cooks, she would consider my wimpy Yankee taste buds.

Rosemary, 80, made a salmon, chilie, cheese quiche. It was so excellent. She canned the salmon and chilies herself. Buddy made his famous chicken Quesadillas on the grill. Yum.

Saw a beautiful dude ranch and winery at the north end of the road. The Sorrel River Ranch was the name. The http://www.sorrelriver.com/

An Amtrack train just went by on the other side of the river. Like the river sounds better.

Paul just booked us on a white water rafting trip for Saturday. Looks like fun, saw them going down the river already.

When we went to Durango we ate at La Gaspachio a locals restaurant. I had Tortilla soup there that made my throat hurt. Paul had a burrito. I also had a chicken chulipa and it was very good. J and I went shopping in Farmington and we ate at her favorite restaurant, she had chulipas and I had a stuffed Sopapillas, it was the best. Stuffed with chicken and cheese and all crispy outside. I also bought a dozen of tortillas there. Too good.

This is a recipe that we ate at one of J and Buddy's potlucks.

SOPAPILLA CHEESECAKE:

ingredients:

2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
cinnamon to taste
2 cans crescent rolls

Put 1 can of rolls in a 9 x 13 inch pan.
Beat softened cream cheese, vanilla and 1 cup sugar until fluffy. Spread over the rolls.

Mix butter, 1 cup sugar, and cinnamon, spread over top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Use toothpick to check if the rolls are done.

Canyonlands By Night

This jewel like plant grew everywhere, so beautiful and dainty,



This was a beautiful night cruise on the Colorado River in Moab. They had a light show that lit up the walls of the canyon, with coordinated music and stories about the area. Early settlers, fights with the Ute tribe, local legends. I was pretty tired so it seemed pretty long, and it was one hour to eat and two more on the water.

Moab and Canyonland National Parks

Me and the Jeep in Canyon land park, after a very long day.

Great day for touring in a jeep. We used air since it was 95 degrees. Went to the Arches first, didn't see all the arches as some are a long hike and we weren't prepared for that.

The landscape is amazing. This cliff goes up hundreds of feet.



Three branches of the San Juan meet here at the Soaring Eagle Fishing Camp.



Paul's big Rainbow Trout



A toast to the trout at the end of the day

All duded up to duel the sun and the trout.

The Navajo Dam area is beautiful and sunny. There are large trout everywhere in the river and they aren't spooked when the boat floats over them. We saw them everywhere.

Float Down the San Juan River

Buddy at the oars, most patient river guide ever and great friend.



What a tiny fish! It is all catch and release where we fished. The hooks have the barbs cut off and are size 24. It doesn't even hurt when you hook yourself, they are so tiny. Buddy hardly bled at all. A worse student than me pierced his ear this summer.

Fly Fishing The San Juan in New Mexico

Another sunrise pic



Sunrise on the mesa across the river

Buddy is checking our fly rods.


These horses are at the park.


Paul and Buddy, had a huge storm with heavy rain and hail the day before, and the river is high and muddy.

View from the Archuletta RV Park, in Navajo Dam, NM

Anna and Megan ready for the game



Emily loves footballs


Grandpa was playing the the kids here, they found a toad.

More Kansas

Megan, ready to attend her first football game


Patrick

Emily

Today I will get some pics of Anna to add.

On to Kansas

Julie pushing Patrick on the swing


Anna and Megan ready to head off to school.

I haven't started quilting, have to baste the layers together while I am here at Julie's.

I babysat the little ones today. Julie had a meeting and Sean and Paul played golf.

Before Julie left we walked the kids in the park, a 2 mile walk. Then I followed Patrick around on his bike, then we played tennis on the back porch. Now Paul is home and he is keeping Patrick busy. I should sleep real good tonight.

Patrick is very, very busy, Emily is just a sweetie. She reminds me so much of Julie as a baby. Easy going all the way.

Had motor home woes on the way here. The first day the fridge wouldn't work on gas mode, so we ran the generator a lot. Was good to have both air conditioners on as it was so very hot. Yesterday, we had to backtrack and get the generator fixed. The idiot light was on plus it "clunked" . Put on a new something, it still clunked a few times.